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College Football Post-Week 13 Award Watch

Kansas State's Klein, Georgia's Jones have chance to build case

This week will mark the final chance for award contenders to make their final pitches to voters across the country.

Heisman contenders Johnny Manziel, Manti Te’o and Braxton Miller have finished their seasons, so Collin Klein will have the opportunity to make the final statement. And he’s not just vying for the Heisman.

PLAYER OF THE YEARMaxwell AwardFinalists: Kansas State’s Collin Klein, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, Notre Dame’s Manti Te’oBiggest snub: Ohio State’s Braxton MillerOur leader: Klein
Though the Maxwell and Heisman essentially honor a player of a similar description -- the player or the year or the most outstanding player -- they’ve rarely been in lockstep over the last decade. Auburn’s Cam Newton in 2010 and Florida’s Tim Tebow in 2007 are the only players since 2000 to win the Maxwell and the Heisman in the same year. Maxwell winners include Andrew Luck (2011), Colt McCoy (2009), Brady Quinn (2006), Vince Young (2005) and Eli Manning (2003). Since we have Manziel as our Heisman frontrunner and each of the last nine winners were quarterbacks, we select Klein as our Maxwell frontrunner.

OFFENSIVE AWARDSDavey O’Brien (Top quarterback)Finalists: Kansas State’s Collin Klein, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, Ohio State’s Braxton MillerBiggest snub: Northern Illinois’ Jordan LynchOur leader: Klein
Klein has one more game to stake his claim on national awards compared to Manziel, but it’s tough to ignore a redshirt freshman playing for a first-year coach setting SEC records in his program’s year in the league. Manziel led the SEC in rushing and set conference records in total offense for a single game and single season.

Doak Walker (Top running back)Finalists: Wisconsin’s Montee Ball, Oregon’s Kenjon Barner, UCLA’s Johnathan FranklinBiggest snub: Arizona’s Ka’Deem CareyOur leader: Carey
Voters can't, but we can still vote for Carey even if he’s not a finalist. The Wildcats running back leads the nation in rushing at 146.4 yards per game. Carey rushed for 742 yards and seven touchdowns in his final three games.

Biletnikoff Award (Top wide receiver)Finalists: West Virginia’s Stedman Bailey, USC’s Marqise Lee, Baylor’s Terrance WilliamsBiggest snub: West Virginia’s Tavon AustinOur leader: Lee
In a disappointing year for USC, Lee was the bright spot. He caught 112 passes for 1,680 yards with 14 touchdowns. Though he and Robert Woods entered the season as one of the best tandems in the country, Lee finished with twice as many yards.

Mackey Award (Top tight end)Finalists: Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifert, Stanford’s Zach Ertz, Washington’s Austin Seferian-JenkinsBiggest snub: Arizona State’s Chris CoyleOur leader: Ertz
Ertz led the nation’s tight ends with 818 receiving yards, a total on which he can build in the Pac-12 title game against UCLA.

Outland Trophy (Top interior lineman)Finalists: North Carolina’s Jonathan Cooper, Alabama’s Barrett Jones, Texas A&M’s Luke JoeckelBiggest snub: Notre Dame’s Stephon TuittOur leader: Jones
Jones has been the frontrunner for offensive line awards all season and has done little to change that perception. Can that continue against Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones?

DEFENSIVE AWARDSNagurski Trophy (Defensive Player of the Year)Finalists: South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney, Georgia’s Jarvis Jones, Alabama Dee Milliner, Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o, Florida State’s Bjoern WernerBiggest snub: Rutgers’ Khaseem GreeneOur leader: Te’o
Te’o’s case for national defensive player of the year is nearly ironclad. He’s the anchor of the nation’s No. 6 defense and No. 5 run defense. His seven interceptions is second in the nation. The next most picks for a linebacker is four.

Lombardi Award (Top lineman or linebacker)Finalists: South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney, Alabama’s Barrett Jones, Georgia’s Jarvis JonesBiggest snub: Texas A&M’s Damontre MooreOur leader: Clowney
Both Joneses will have a chance to build their cases in the SEC Championship Game, but Clowney is our leader for now after recording 4.5 sacks in the upset at Clemson last week. He had 9.5 tackles for a loss in his final four games played (he missed the game against Wofford).

Thorpe Award (Top defensive back)Finalists: Mississippi State’s Johnthan Banks, Alabama’s Dee Milliner, Fresno State’s Phillip ThomasBiggest snub: Florida’s Matt ElamOur leader: Thomas
Milliner may walk away with the award, especially if he shines in a in a matchup against Aaron Murray in Atlanta, but Thomas shouldn’t fly under the radar. He’s leading the nation with eight interceptions, including two touchdowns. He also was tied for second in the Mountain West with 12 tackles for a loss.

SPECIAL TEAMS AWARDS
Groza Award (Top kicker)Finalists: Florida State’s Dustin Hopkins, Tulane’s Cairo Santos, Florida’s Caleb SturgisBiggest snub: Ball State’s Steven SchottOur leader: Santos
Santos in the only kicker with more than 15 attempts who is perfect on field goals. The Green Wave junior is 21 of 21 including 12 made field goals from longer than 40 yards.

OTHER NATIONAL AWARDSFreshman of the YearOur leader: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
Breaking SEC records held by Cam Newton and Tim Couch is a good way to start a career. Not to mention defeating then-No. 1 Alabama on the road. Even in a year with standout redshirt freshman quarterbacks, Manziel leads the pack.Others: Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Dixon, TCU’s Devonte Fields, UCLA’s Brett Hundley, Oregon’s Marcus Mariota

Coach of the YearOur leader: Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly
O’Brien and Meyer overcame more adversity, and Snyder deserves a lifetime achievement awards. But from a standpoint of exceeding expectations and overcoming limitations, Kelly is the leader. The Notre Dame offense is average -- something that has to stick in Kelly’s craw -- but the defense carried the Irish to an unexpected undefeated season and title game appearance.Others: Ohio State’s Urban Meyer, Penn State’s Bill O’Brien, Kansas State’s Bill Snyder